CYCLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1932, Page 13

CYCLING.

WITH THE AMATEURS

MANUKAU CLUB'S EVENTS. FIXTURES. Saturday, April 30.—5 Miles Junior, IS Miles Senior, 2 p.m. Sunday, May I.—Meeting, Domain, 10.30 a.m. Saturday, May 7.—Centre's Road Race of 23 Miles, 2.30 p.m.

Conditions were slightly on + .he boisterous side last Saturday when the Manukau Amateur Cycling Club held its first races this season on tne course which was used throughout last winter.

iwo new-comers to the junior ranks swelled tlie entry total to 11 for the tenmiler held for the young fry. L. R. Jepsou, who reeled a lap off in the creditable time of B.S, and R. I. Grogan were the two recruits. With three outright wins last year and another on Saturday last, W. 1, J. Elliott, "Buster," appears as if he will take some passing once again. He rode off 5.0, and shared tnc pacing work with R. Campbell to suvu perfection that he had no worries concerning riders off shorter marks. In the final lap he cantered away from Campbell to win by six seconds, round about 70 yards. He is a solid young lad, and a real plodder. R. Campbell, 5.0, second, was placed in eight events last year. He tired towards the finish, but for over three laps helped the winner considerably by sharing the pace.

E. W. Bates, 2.0, tore across the line !)s after Elliott, his face streaming with perspiration. The same face was beaming with smiles when its owner learnt that he had recorded fastest time in 30.20. It was the first time that he had ever gained such honours during his two road seasons. He beat scratch junior, J. R. Hall, by 275. Hall had trouble with the equipment of his cycle, which, however, could have been prevented.

Even those who remarked that the senior event was a gift for 1. H. Reid, the limit rider off 9.30, had to admit that Reid rode a sterling lace. The event was over eight laps, 20 miles, and for the full eight Reid pedalled away on his lonesome with no one to catch, but with a full knowledge that a big pack of riders were chasing him hard somewhere behind, but so far back that he did not know where. He won by 1.52, with the second finisher a mere speck in the distance. The steadiness of his riding is illustrated clearly by the lap times he produced: 7.40, 7.56, 7.55, 7.57, 8.2, 8.8, 8.11. and a final burst of 7.58, taking in all 03.47. Keith N. Clark, 4.30, second, showed +lie greatest improvement of any rider in the Held. His time of 60.39 was the second best recorded, and was 29s better than the time he registered in a similar race last season. He was the only rider to improve his personal record time. Clark was placed in six events last year, but has not had a road win vet. R. C. Chappell, 5.30, third, evidently thinks it better to move up by degrees, for he was fourth the previous week. Ron. Or, Foubister, scr, finished fifth, 3.55 after Reid. to take time honours in 58.12. Although by no means near the record, it was a splendid effort under the severe conditions imposed by the wind and accompanying showers. Foubister has been picked with Henry R. Dwight to contest the Olympic Trials at Wanganui this week-end. The track event, a onekilometre time trial unpaced, and the road event of 65 miles, should appeal to Ron. With his absence next week's race for the time issue will be exceptionally open. R. T. Baston's improvement was evident when he ran A. W. D. Robinson to a dead hea't for sixth place. The latter rider started off in great fashion with an initial lap in 6.57. against Foubister's 6.59. but after that lap Robinson lost much of his dash, and before lap six finished Foubister had caught and passed him. Robinson had 1.30 start. Five retired during the 20 miles, Frank Casey with mechanical trouble, A. Brass with similar worries, and Hansen, Bellini and Morris merely because the pace was ton ' ' "r , . ■ •'■•>"" '•: Saturday, May 7, promises to be a redletter day with the sport, for the Cycling Centre is conducting an open race on that date when inter-club rivalry will be seen for the first time on the road here. Mr. J. C. Stewart, Centre secretary, will accept entries at 1/ on or before next Monday. • - On Mnv 28, a cyclists' versus harriers event will be conducted, of which further details will be made known at an early date.